We have posted several posts about how oral health can affect overall health care. Many studies show a high correlation between heart attack, stroke, diabetes, bone loss, lung disease, and oral health. Take your oral health seriously. Here are some tips to help you keep your teeth and gums healthy:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss daily to remove food particles and plaque between teeth.
- Limit sugary and acidic foods and drinks that damage your teeth.
- Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth hydrated and wash away food particles.
- Visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and professional cleanings.
- Quit smoking or using tobacco products, as they can cause oral cancer and other health problems.
- Use mouthwash to freshen your breath and kill bacteria.
By following these simple tips, you can maintain good oral and dental health and reduce your risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems. People with dental insurance are more likely to make and keep dental appointments.
Maintaining good oral health is crucial for overall health. Poor oral hygiene can lead to dental problems such as gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath, which can cause significant discomfort and pain. Moreover, research has shown that poor oral health is linked to other health problems such as heart disease, stroke, respiratory infections, and diabetes. Therefore, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly, having periodic dental checkups, and following a healthy diet. If you have dental insurance under most plans, this type of service falls under preventive care and is inexpensive.
Question: Can I get a Dental discount plan for only my six-year-old son?
Reply: Yes, many dental discount plans offer coverage for children only. You can check with various dental insurance providers to see what options are available for your six-year-old son. It’s essential to compare the plans and see which offers the best discounts for your needs. Additionally, consider whether you want a plan with savings for preventative care, such as regular check-ups and cleanings, or one that discounts major procedures like braces or oral surgery.
Overall, a dental discount plan can be an affordable and effective way to ensure that your child has access to the dental care they need by comparing plans and finding the right fit for your family.
Another option is looking into an HMO dental insurance plan. Some will let you have only a minor as an individual plan. Others may require you to buy a couple of plans for you and your son. However, HMO dental insurance plans are the more affordable option, and it may be well worth buying an insurance plan for you and your son.
It is important to start flossing your child’s teeth when they touch each other around two and a half years old. Flossing makes a big difference in the prevention of cavities. Generally, when your child starts a kinder garden, they should be able to begin flossing their teeth. Though they may not yet have the skills to do a good job, you should supervise and give tips and pointers now and then to encourage good oral health care. Just like adults, a child should floss their teeth every day. A good time is right before they go to bed, but that is important as long as they floss each day
Hello, I am going to be having our first child. My husband and I currently do not have dental insurance, but I told him to start looking for it before the baby is due so we will have something in place when he needs to use it. Would we buy a family dental insurance plan that includes a newborn?
Reply: With dental insurance, three people or more would typically be listed as a family plan. So, if you are shopping for dental insurance for all three of you, you want to review the family cost of the dental insurance plan. You could buy a dental insurance plan for a couple if you wish, then add your child to the plan when they start getting their first tooth or when they are one year old, as a general rule of thumb.
Baby Teeth Care: When the first tooth appears, you will want to start cleaning your baby’s teeth twice daily. Until your child is older, around one, you can use a soft wet cloth to clean your baby teeth and gums. You can use a baby toothbrush once your child is around a year old. Ensure you use a non-fluoride toothpaste and only need a dab. I would only use toothpaste with fluoride once your child can spit and knows not to eat or swallow the toothpaste. It’s suggested that you take your child to see the dentist at or around their first birthday.
For teething, give your baby a cold teething ring or frozen washcloth. You can also rub your baby’s teeth and gums with a clean finger. You should use Baby Orajel to help numb the baby’s gums. You can also ask your doctor for some Tylenol for the baby. However, you never want to give your baby any aspirin since aspirin may cause Reye’s syndrome, a severe illness. While the cause of Reye’s syndrome remains unknown, some research has established a link between Reye’s Syndrome and the use of aspirin. It has been advised by the U.S. Surgeon General and the American Academy of Pediatrics that aspirin and combination products containing aspirin not be given to children under 19.
My sister needs better oral and dental health care. Her teeth look yellow to me, and when I ask if she has seen a dentist, she says she can not afford to see one. Are there cheap dental insurance plans out there?
Reply: You should review dental HMO insurance plans, as they are cheaper options. Most HMO plans will provide free to low-cost preventive dental care. Under HMO plans, the dental services covered are listed on a fee schedule, so she knows the cost of needed dental care ahead of time. The fee schedule will make budgeting for dental care more manageable.
Symptoms of an Abscessed Tooth include:
- Severe and continuous toothache.
- Fever.
- Sensitivity to hot or cold.
- A bad taste in your mouth.
- Having bad breath and redness or swelling of your gums.
These are just a few symptoms of having a tooth abscess. Note that you only need to have some signs of tooth abscess to have an abscessed tooth. I recommend seeing a dentist to confirm if it is an abscessed tooth or a different dental issue.
I currently live in Kentucky and am moving to California. I am looking for a low monthly rate plan for dental insurance. I have myself and one child. Do I get a family plan or a couple plan? What are good dental insurance plans you do not have to pay much monthly?
Reply: With most insurance plans, you can buy a couple plan for two people (in your case, you and your child). For a low monthly cost dental insurance plan, I suggest you review dental HMO insurance plans, as they are the more affordable option for dental insurance.
An abscess is a painful infection at the tooth’s root or sometimes between the gum and the tooth. You can get an abscessed tooth due to untreated tooth decay. However, you can also get abscessed if you have trauma to your teeth, such as breaking or chipping your tooth, gum disease, or gingivitis. If you have an abscessed tooth, you must see your dentist immediately. The abscess or infection may spread from the tooth root to the bone, causing a significant oral health issue.
It may seem hard to believe, but many people do not floss, let alone floss daily. Yet flossing is even more critical than brushing when preventing gum disease, gingivitis, and tooth loss. Flossing your teeth is not so much about removing food bits that are between your gums, though it does do that. Flossing is more about removing dental plaque. Dental plaque is what causes tooth decay, gingivitis, and gum disease. Flossing every day between each tooth is an effective way to remove plaque and provide good oral health.
Medicare insurance in California is a type of health insurance that provides coverage to people eligible for Medicare in California. The federal government administers Medicare in California, but the state of California can provide additional benefits and programs unavailable in other states. There are several different types of Medicare insurance plans in California, including Original Medicare, which is a fee-for-service plan that allows you to see any doctor or provider that accepts Medicare; Medicare Advantage, which is a type of health plan that provides all of your Medicare benefits through a private insurer; and Medicare Supplement, which is a type of insurance policy that helps pay for some of the costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover.
Partial or Single Tooth Implant: The procedure will be less invasive if all you need is a single tooth replacement. For one, you will only need one fixture, so there will be less stress on the jawbone and you. Here is the procedure. A hole is drilled for implant insertion. A titanium screw-type device is placed in the hole mentioned above. The jawbone will heal and adhere to the implant during the healing time. A device called an abutment is attached to the implant. A crown is placed on top of the abutment.
Several dental insurance policies offer discounts for dental implant procedures to help you reduce your costs. Before you purchase a dental plan:
- Be sure it has benefits for dental implants
- Confirm coverages for a dental implant
- Call the dental office and confirm they will do the implant.
- Sometimes, you need to see a dental specialist; many plans have restrictions, waiting periods, and limitations.
Here are some good pros and cons of using Water Flossers instead of flossing.
Pros: Water Flossers are effective; they can be faster to use the flossing. Water Flossers usually comes with multiple wands and different colors so different family member can have their own, just like a toothbrush. Great for braces. Flossing with braces can be difficult. Orthodontic dentists often suggest Water Flossers. Adjustable water pressure: You can get cordless Water Flossers. Water Flossers suit people who may not floss well or have gum issues. Anything that will make you take care of your teeth and gums better is helpful.
Cons: Cost can be a factor since they can run as high as $50 – $60. Depending on how well you care for them, they break down, some not even lasting a year. It takes work always to see what you are doing, which can cause you to make a mess. Looking in the mirror can also be difficult as the spray tends to go where you are looking. They can be too noisy. Water Flossers take up too much counter space, which is terrible if you have a small bathroom. If you are not careful, you spend more time cleaning the sink and countertops from water mess. If you are not careful, they may, over time, loosen bridge and crown work. Overuse, like anything, can cause more harm than good, so make sure you use it as directed. If you are trying to determine what is best for oral health care, talk to your dentist and see what they suggest. Having sound advice from your dentist is worth taking in and thinking about as a deciding factor.
Tooth decay destroys a tooth’s outer surface from acid-forming bacteria produced by food containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches). Tooth Decay Prevention: Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Preferably, brush after each meal and before bedtime to help prevent bacteria from staying on your teeth for a certain length. Consider these helpful tips: Floss your teeth daily to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Check with your dentist about using supplemental fluoride, which strengthens your teeth and helps prevent tooth decay. Consider dental sealants; sealants are placed on the top of the molars to protect the teeth from decay. Use mouthwashes with fluoride. Many kill 50% or more of the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Chewing gum with the ingredient Xylitol © may also kill some of the bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Dental health care is critical, and there are many ways to ensure you do all you can for your oral health care. There are many ways to ensure you are doing all you can for oral health care: simple things like brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing daily, using tarter control, and gum care mouthwash. The primary dental care you do for yourself is low-cost and takes very little time each day. The next step is to see a dentist at least twice a year for check-ups and cleanings. Cost can be a factor, but it does not have to be.
One way to control dental costs is through a low-cost dental insurance plan. Many dental insurance plans offer free to low-cost preventive dental care. The money you spend on dental insurance is well worth it. And by seeing your dentist regularly, you will avoid any major dental issues. However, dental insurance will also help control your dental costs if you need more extensive dental services. Be thoughtful about your oral health and think ahead. Good dental care now makes for good dental care in the future.
I have no tooth pain but have not been to the dentist in over two years since I got removed from my parent’s dental insurance policy. My teeth are fine, but my mom told me to see the dentist, saying I could have cavities. Should I go?
Reply: Short answer: yes, you should see a dentist regularly to maintain good oral health. Even though you have not been to the dentist in two years, you still have cavities. However, only a dentist can confirm if you do or not. Think about getting a low-cost HMO dental insurance plan. Having dental insurance will help make your dental care more affordable.